Fridays Fabulous Find for October

October 5, 2012

emeals

Watching this video makes me laugh -because it is so true! At least, for our family it is. Amazingly enough, I do not like to cook. My mom never taught me or told me to cook growing up, leaving me clueless when planning family dinners for my family. Although my husband graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and loves to cook, he comes home from work, after cooking all day cause that is his job, and that is the last thing he wants to do. 

Finally, a solution! I found an emeals ad on the Hip Homeschool Mom blog and decided to check it out. This is exactly what our family needs. Think about it. You're tired, you don't know what to cook, you don't know how to cook, your kids are crying or fighting and frankly, you just want dinner on the table quickly! Usually on those days, I am weak and so is my husband. We usually get take-out or go out to eat and when you are on a tight budget that is the worst thing you can do. 

Emeals is very affordable, with plans starting at $5 a month. They give you your 7 day weekly dinners as well as your grocery shopping list. In other words, it is like living at home again with Mom telling you what to eat and what to buy at the store. No more guess work. Can I get a sigh of relief. (deep breath) ah. Relax. 

If you do not know how to cook like me, you probably do not have that many recipes in the back of your mind. This was perfect! I can't wait to get started. How about you? 

Check it out and let me know

what you think about it! 

How to Organize Weekly Dinners: 101

How to "Organize Your Dinners" 

By-The-Week

Task:

Step 1: Organize your favorite recipes  A-Z

Step 2: Create a accordion file that will hold recipes for the week Mon.-Sun.

Step 3: Print off "Dinners for the Week" Guide Sheet

Step 4: Read directions on how the weekly dinner system works.

Tah-Dah, You're done! 

What you will need:

• Index Cards
• Index Card Holder
• Colorful Pens 
• A-Z Guide Sheets 
• Your favorite recipe book
• Accordion File 7 1/4"x 4 3/4" 1 inch depth
• Note Tabs
• "Dinners for the Week" guide sheet
• Optional: Electronic Labeling System ( I use a Brother P-Touch)

  You can find these items at Staples. 

The Process:

Use a 3x5 index card box to hold your

 Index Cards and A-Z filing system. 

One of my favorite recipe books.

The next step is to write down all of your recipes on the index cards and file them. You may want a nice cup of hot tea and your favorite pen, this may take a little while. 

Now you will need the Note Tabs. Write the name of the recipes on the top. (or you can use your labeler). 

*Photo of this coming soon! Waiting for labels to come in mail.

This is my accordion file where all my recipes for the week will go. You will want to place yours in a spot in the kitchen where you will have easy access to it. 

Directions on How the System Works

Step 1.) Every Sunday you will want to get your Index Box of Recipes and look through them. Pick out 7 recipes that sound good. 

Step 2.) File these recipes in your Accordion File, starting with Monday and ending on Sunday. 

Now you have a good idea what is for dinner!

Step 3.) Write down all the ingredients that you will need for the recipes on a shopping list. Go grocery shopping! 

This will save you time, energy and money! 

Step 4.) Fill out your printable "On the Menu this Week" and place it on the fridge or somewhere you will see it.

Step 5.) At the beginning of the week, you will look at your printable and read what is for dinner. When it is time for dinner you will get out your accordion file and pull out the day of the week recipe. You know you will have the ingredients because you just went shopping! Repeat Step 5 throughout the week.

{ Bon Appetit }

Check out my October Give Away {here}.